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| Canada train blast: At least one dead in Lac-Megantic | Canada train blast: At least one dead in Lac-Megantic |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police say at least one person has died after a driverless train carrying light crude oil exploded in the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic. | Police say at least one person has died after a driverless train carrying light crude oil exploded in the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic. |
| The blast sent a fireball and black smoke into the air, forcing the evacuation of 1,000 people. | The blast sent a fireball and black smoke into the air, forcing the evacuation of 1,000 people. |
| Dozens of buildings were destroyed in the town, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Montreal. | Dozens of buildings were destroyed in the town, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Montreal. |
| The train's cars reportedly uncoupled from a parked engine and derailed early on Saturday. | |
| Rail company spokesman Christophe Journet said the train had been immobilised in a neighbouring village before a scheduled crew change, but for an unknown reason had then started rolling downhill into Lac-Megantic. | Rail company spokesman Christophe Journet said the train had been immobilised in a neighbouring village before a scheduled crew change, but for an unknown reason had then started rolling downhill into Lac-Megantic. |
| Eye witnesses said that by the time the driverless train reached the town it was travelling at considerable speed. | Eye witnesses said that by the time the driverless train reached the town it was travelling at considerable speed. |
| Local media reported 60 people missing, although police officials have not confirmed this. | Local media reported 60 people missing, although police officials have not confirmed this. |
| The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear. | The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear. |
| Some 120 fire fighters have been fighting the blaze, which continued for hours after the blast. | Some 120 fire fighters have been fighting the blaze, which continued for hours after the blast. |
| They have been unable to approach the centre of the devastation. | They have been unable to approach the centre of the devastation. |
| Eyewitnesses reported that the town centre was crowded at the time of the blast, and that "chaos" ensued. | Eyewitnesses reported that the town centre was crowded at the time of the blast, and that "chaos" ensued. |
| Explosion fears | Explosion fears |
| The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic train had five locomotive engines and 73 cars filled with light crude oil, and was parked outside Lac-Megantic during an overnight driver shift-change, a company spokesman told Canada's La Presse newspaper. | The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic train had five locomotive engines and 73 cars filled with light crude oil, and was parked outside Lac-Megantic during an overnight driver shift-change, a company spokesman told Canada's La Presse newspaper. |
| The cars filled with fuel somehow became uncoupled, causing them to roll downhill into the town and derail, said the spokesman, Joe McGonigle. | The cars filled with fuel somehow became uncoupled, causing them to roll downhill into the town and derail, said the spokesman, Joe McGonigle. |
| "It seems that the brakes were tight on locomotives," Mr McGonigle told La Presse. "We found the locomotives higher up, half a mile (800m) away." | "It seems that the brakes were tight on locomotives," Mr McGonigle told La Presse. "We found the locomotives higher up, half a mile (800m) away." |
| Some of the cars exploded, creating a massive fireball and setting fire to nearby homes and businesses. | Some of the cars exploded, creating a massive fireball and setting fire to nearby homes and businesses. |
| A one-kilometre exclusion zone has been set up amid fears of more pressurised containers exploding. | A one-kilometre exclusion zone has been set up amid fears of more pressurised containers exploding. |
| Quebec police spokesman Sergeant Gregory Gomez del Prado told the BBC: "We do fear that there will be fatalities and from now we're trying to locate the people that are still missing." | Quebec police spokesman Sergeant Gregory Gomez del Prado told the BBC: "We do fear that there will be fatalities and from now we're trying to locate the people that are still missing." |
| 'Everything gone' | 'Everything gone' |
| "When you see the centre of your town almost destroyed, you'll understand that we're asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event," an emotional Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche told a televised news briefing. | "When you see the centre of your town almost destroyed, you'll understand that we're asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event," an emotional Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche told a televised news briefing. |
| Resident Claude Bedard described the scene of the explosions as "dreadful''. | Resident Claude Bedard described the scene of the explosions as "dreadful''. |
| "We've never seen anything like it," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "We've never seen anything like it," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
| "The Metro store, Dollarama, everything that was there is gone." | "The Metro store, Dollarama, everything that was there is gone." |
| Firefighters from across the border in the US are helping tackle the blaze. | Firefighters from across the border in the US are helping tackle the blaze. |
| Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those affected by this morning's tragic train derailment and subsequent fires in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. | Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those affected by this morning's tragic train derailment and subsequent fires in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. |
| "We hope evacuees can return to their homes safely and quickly. | "We hope evacuees can return to their homes safely and quickly. |
| "The people of Lac-Megantic and surrounding areas can rest assured that our government is monitoring the situation and we stand by ready to provide any assistance requested by the province." | "The people of Lac-Megantic and surrounding areas can rest assured that our government is monitoring the situation and we stand by ready to provide any assistance requested by the province." |
| Some of the train's cargo spilled into the nearby Chaudiere river, said Environment Quebec spokesman Christian Blanchette, adding that communities downstream of Lac-Megantic had been warned to take care if using river water. | Some of the train's cargo spilled into the nearby Chaudiere river, said Environment Quebec spokesman Christian Blanchette, adding that communities downstream of Lac-Megantic had been warned to take care if using river water. |
| A mobile laboratory had been set up to monitor the quality of the air, he added. | A mobile laboratory had been set up to monitor the quality of the air, he added. |
| The train was carrying the crude oil from the Bakken Field in North Dakota. Montreal, Maine & Atlantic owns more than 800km (500 miles) of track serving Maine, Vermont, Quebec and New Brunswick. | The train was carrying the crude oil from the Bakken Field in North Dakota. Montreal, Maine & Atlantic owns more than 800km (500 miles) of track serving Maine, Vermont, Quebec and New Brunswick. |
| A lakeside town that is home to some 6,000 people, Lac-Megantic is close to the US border with Vermont and 210 km (130 miles) north of Maine's capital, Augusta. | A lakeside town that is home to some 6,000 people, Lac-Megantic is close to the US border with Vermont and 210 km (130 miles) north of Maine's capital, Augusta. |
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